Earlier this year the 25-year-old received a kidney from her friend Fancia Raisa when she learned she required a transplant due to complications with her condition lupus.

However, the singer revealed that it reached such a dangerous stage as she hadn’t understood doctors’ stark warnings.

Speaking at the Lupus Research Alliance Annual Gala in New York City, the Wolves singer said: ‘I am really honoured to be here with all of you guys tonight, my lupus community. As many of you know, or might now know, I was diagnosed with lupus about five or six years ago.

Selena Gomez has spoken out about her kidney transplant (Picture: Steve Granitz/WireImage)

‘I’ve been speaking out about my situation to raise awareness about the disease. After undergoing so many tests to monitor my kidneys my doctors told me I have lupus nephritis, one of those complications from lupus. They said I would be needing a kidney transplant.’

However, she hadn’t realised how soon she’d need the surgery.

‘Maybe I wasn’t necessarily really good at knowing what that meant so it actually got to a point where it was life-or-death,’ she said. ‘Thankfully, one of my best friends gave me her kidney and it was the ultimate gift of life. And I am doing quite well now.’

Selena Gomez shared the news of her surgery in September (Picture: Instagram)

Selena recently spoke of her transplant as being a positive experience, and called it a ‘beautiful thing.

‘I don’t want people to think it’s a sad thing that I went through this with Francia or with anything in my life,’ she said. ‘I think all of the stuff that I went through made me and defined everything that I am right now. It’s a really beautiful thing and I have to remind myself of that. It’s not a negative experience.’

Selena only revealed the operation in September, having shied away from the limelight over the summer.

She uploaded an image of her and her friend from their hospital beds, with the caption: ‘There aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa. She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis (sic).’